Saturday 18 April 2015
6.30 — 10pm

California Soul

We’re bringing to life the spirit of 1970s California, inspired by Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park series which he painted from his beach front studio in Santa Monica.

Think street art murals, skaters, martinis, meditation and smooth West Coast soft rock as we delve into this particular cultural moment in California.

Sip a free rum punch at our SoCal beachside bar as DJs spin smooth ‘70s classics you can (almost) dance to. Featuring sets by Club Yacht Rock DJs and Berlin based DJ Supermarkt who have pioneered the yacht rock revival, with each releasing compilations in the last year of late ‘70s West Coast sunshine soft rock disco to rave reviews.

Watch as renowned street artist Darren John creates a Venice Beach inspired mural in our Front Hall. Then explore the RA’s Burlington House transformed into a Beverly Hills mansion, complete with meditative kirtan chanting by Illumina, live surfboard art by Pistache, a ‘70s fashion dress-up space and music by Sky Murphy and The General who’ll perform their unique take on Mod, Surf and Rock ‘n’ Roll cultures that the band dub ‘surf-beat’.

Hear talks by skater and filmmaker Winstan Whitter on the emergence of skateboarding in California, and the journey from the Z-boys in the 1970s through to the current street skate scene at London’s Southbank Undercroft.

The Richard Diebenkorn exhibition will be open all evening with performances in the Sackler Wing by Joni Mitchell-inspired folk singer songwriter Ellie Rusbridge, with much more to be unveiled on the night.